Alfred A. Van Cleaf
Agency patch
Patrolman

Alfred A. Van Cleaf

Accident
End of Watch December 4, 1923
Age 27
Badge 5524
The Vigil Panel 46 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Patrolman Alfred Van Cleaf was killed when his motorcycle crashed while he was pursuing a vehicle. Patrolman Van Cleaf was pursuing a vehicle when his motorcycle skid on wet pavement, causing it to crash near the corner of Richmond Turnpike and Bulls Hill Road. Patrolman Van Cleaf was assigned to the 63rd Precinct, the present day 122nd Precinct.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-NY-759D7F27
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Van Cleaf served with the New York City Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Van Cleaf.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location New York, NY
Platform Identity nypd.newyork.ny.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 4, 1923
Age 27
Badge Number 5524
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile

Patrolman Alfred A. Van Cleaf is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.

In NY, 645 of 2,147 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 30 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At New York City Police Department, 283 of 1237 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 22.9% of this agency's fallen.

New York City Police Department
283
of 1,237 officers
22.9% Accident
NY — Statewide
645
of 2,147 officers
30% Accident
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Accident

National Cause Distribution

How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Alfred A. Van Cleaf's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Alfred A. Van Cleaf Compares

Age at Death
27
This officer
Avg for Accident: 38.1 years

When Accident Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Alfred A. Van Cleaf is highlighted in Dec.

Jan
820
Feb
730
Mar
748
Apr
708
May
848
Jun
797
Jul
899
Aug
938
Sep
913
Oct
925
Nov
872
Dec
897

Incident Location